THE LEAD
The Dallas Baptist Patriots (28-14, 8-3) dropped their first conference series of the season in walk-off fashion as Bradley University (20-16, 5-6) scored single runs in both the
8th and 9th innings to defeat first-place DBU, 2-1. Jordan Martinson was brilliant in his longest career start but did not factor in the decision as he left with the tying run at second in the 8th inning. Two different Bradley pitchers held the Patriot offense at bay as DBU could only muster a single run in the 2nd inning while picking up six hits.
 
Martinson threw 103 pitches in the effort, getting one out in the eighth after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt before handing the ball to Sean Stutzman with the tying run at second. It was the longest outing in the young career of the Patriot hurler but he did not factor in the decision as the Patriot offense was not able to give him much help. Stutzman got the first batter he faced to popup in foul territory but a line drive off the bat of Tyler Leffler with two outs eluded the grasp of Tim Millard at third and ricocheted into left field to tie the game at one. Dalton Higgins came on with the go-ahead run at second base and stranded him there to move the game along to the ninth tied at one.
 
DBU scored their only run in the second inning with a workman-like effort to move Jameson Hannah around the bases after a leadoff single. With Luke Stratman batting after his bloop to right, Hannah stole second, moved to third on Stratman's long fly to right, and scored as Matt Duce picked up the RBI with a groundout to shortstop. That would be all the Patriot offense could manage off Brent and Nathan Stong, twin brothers who pitched for Bradley.
 
The Patriots did not get a runner aboard in their half of the ninth inning and Higgins retired the first batter for Bradley to start the home half. J.F. Garon then singled through the right side with one out and moved to second on a passed ball with two outs. Then, on a 3-2 pitch from Higgins, Ian Kristan singled cleanly through the left side to complete the series win for Bradley and the send the Patriots to their third loss in the last four games.

THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- All three games in the Patriots' series against Bradley were decided by one run.
- DBU's lead in the Missouri Valley Conference is down to one-game over Evansville.
- The series loss to Bradley marks the first time the Patriots have dropped a road series to the Braves in their all-time series.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
8 - Jordan Martinson struck out a season-high eight batters.
1 - Trooper Reynolds' double in the first inning was the only extra-base hit between the two teams.
15 - DBU totaled 15 hits in the three-game series versus Bradley.
 
UP NEXT
DBU will return to action on Tuesday night as they travel across the Metroplex to face UTA in Arlington. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.